Brother Mark Adams and Blister!

Does Brother Mark look confused? Ha!

 Well, Pastor Mark Adams made it back again to teach and spend time with the pastors. This was Brother Mark's fourth time coming so most of the pastors were looking forward to listening and seeing him again. Brother Mark makes friends pretty easy for those that don't know him...and that might be an understatement. He brought along a friend with him this time to help Brandi out with preparing and cooking the food. Her name is Blister...Haha...Naomi but she quickly got the name Blister a few days into the week. She told Brandi a couple of times that she was going to get up to help with preparing breakfast...I had to wake her up when it was done to help serve. Ha! So Mark...being Mark...thought up the name Blister. And Brandi...being Brandi...asked, "Why Blister?" And Brother Mark explained that blisters usually pop up at the end of the job after the work is done...Lol! So we called her Blister the rest of the trip. Good stuff! 

We had 26 pastors during the seminar Making Disciples! Great group of guys and all ready and open to learn and receive from God's Spirit and Word. It was great to see them so interested and responding to the questions and even digging deeper to get more answers! This wasn't the first time that they were taught on making disciples and forming leaders. It's easy to see that they are understanding and even applying what they are learning. I have seen first hand where many of the  Biblical ideas and teachings are being put into practice in their churches and communities. There were several in the seminar who had never met Brother Mark before or had not received the training and teaching on Discipleship and Forming Leaders so they really had a lot of questions and comments. And one of the great things that we saw was many of the pastors present who had received the training and teachings were actually answering the questions and helping explain the material with us! Awesome! 

Brother Mark is definitely a people person so he fits right in with these guys. He's out there eating and sitting with them. I often wonder what it is they talk about or discuss because Mark doesn't speak Spanish! Haha! He actually would say a few things in Spanish but would always mix it up with his French from school. And the pastors would look at me like I could translate the French...nope. 

Blister!!

Blister was wonderful helping Brandi and Nancy in the kitchen or playing with the kids! The ladies were very happy to have the extra help and the kids loved playing with her. She also went on a hunting trip a couple of times at the youth service here in the city where we go to church and the Sunday morning service. I think she was able to get a few contacts and names...who knows?? I'm sure the folks don't really like that idea. And of course Mark and I were always available and ready to extend a helping hand and watch all the faces turn red and every one start walking away from embarrassment...always a pleasure. One of the guys thought she was Brother Mark's wife...I think it had something to do with the dress...haha! 

We went to a new church with a new pastor, Mecerdes, where Mark was able to preach to the congregation. Really good experience. It was in a very poverty stricken area, but the pastor and his family wanted to feed us. So we ate while they watched...very difficult but they expressed their deep love for God and for us and we couldn't say no. But we can always bless them later! The church folks were really precious and in love with God! The worship was wonderful! Despite the rain and the barn post style church being packed out, people were crowding in to hear and sitting in the rain to listen to God's Word...think about it! 

Playing a Game! Fun!

Well, we praise God for another seminar and more time together with the pastors and our friends from the States! What a blessing and privilege to work with and spend time with the pastors from the villages, and what an encouragement to have our friends from the States come and pour out their love and lives into the people here!! The Body of Christ is really an awesome and beautiful thing!! Glory to God!